Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — STRIKE IS TO GO ON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STRIKE IS TO GO ON.

MORGAN DECIDES FIGHT MUST BE TO A FINISH. Declines Flatly to Interfere in the Labor War—lmportant Conference la Held to Discuss the Campaign—Operators Confident of Resuming Work. No new plans for arbitrating the coal strike, no matter by whom they are inspired, will be considered by the operators, and no influence that President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers can bring to bear on them will change their IKisition one iota. Such was the conclusion reached late Tuesday by the presidents of the anthracite coal carrying companies in conference in New York. It was also stated officially that J. Pierpont Morgan i will not take any hand in the dispute. At noon, which was three hours before the conference began. President Baer of the Philadelphia and Rending Railroad, who came from Philadelphia early in the day, called at Mr. Morgan’s office and had a talk with Him. There were present also when the talk was going on Samuel Spencer, president of the Southern Railway; 11. MeK. Twombly. Mr. Stotesbury and George AV. Perkins. Mr. Baer hurried away as soon ns he left Mr. Morgan’s office. Later Samuel Sloan, chairman of the board of directors of the Delaware, Lackawanna and’’’ Western

Railroad, called and had a conference with Mr. Morgan. All this was considered significant, although at Mr. Morgan’s office it was stated that the visits had no particular importance. The meeting of the coal presidents was held in a private room in the Delnionico building, where President Fowler of the New York. Ontario and Western Railroad gave a luncheon to the other presidents. The conference took place during luncheon, and while it was not largely attended it was in many respects the most important held by the representatives of the coal roads since the strike began. There were present, besides .1. W. Fowler, President Baer, President Underwood of lhe Erie Railroad and President Truesdale of the Lackaw uma Railroad. The situation at the mining districts wns discussed for two hours, during which time reports from tbo mines were considered. The reports showed that men were applying for work in increasing numbers, but that a break in the strike had not occurred yet. No time, it was stated, was fixed for opening the collieries. but the question as to the preparing the mines for reopening was considered fully. Will Recognize No Interference. President Baer was seen when the conference was over and made the following statement: ‘‘The operators are a unit in standing by their original position. The situation at the mines is improving daily. A fewmore men are applying to be taken back every day, but when the work will be actually resumed I will not undertake to say. I will say, however, that no interference by any outside parties, no matter

how highly we may esteem the parties themselves, will have any effect. The matter at issue can only be settled between the operators and t'ha.upners.” A general statement regarding Mr. Morgan’s attitude was made on behalf of the operators, to the following effect: “Mr. Morgan knew the exact situation while he was in Europe just ns if he hnd been here. He was in touch with everything that transpired, and could have interfered in the dispute while he was abroad just as easily ns when ho returned. ’ His return does uot change the situation. There is no reason why he should interfere now any more than at any time during the strike, and he does not mean to interfere.” Before Mr. Baer left town he called at Mr. Morgan’s office again and, it n as believed, gave him an outline of what took place during the conference of the coal president*. E lituates of the corn crop for 1002, based on tlie government figures, place the amount at 2.580,000,000 bushels. If this crop be finally secured, following a crop of only 1,522,000,000 bushels last year, railroad earnings in the West the coming year are likely to show oven larger increases than were shown in the lust fear.

J. PIERPONT MORGAN.

PRESIDENT JOHN MITCHELL.